Not the kind of message you’d quite expect to hear from me these days: this is to inform you that I have decided to take “a few weeks” sabbatical from the Retrode. The reason is simply that I am overworked. My regular job in computer graphics research currently demands 80-90 hours per week (important project deadlines approaching until mid-February), and I feel that I really need to see my wife and my 2-month-old baby son for more than a few minutes each day. In addition, the coming weeks will also pave the way for the next five years of my work and family life, including another relocation to a different continent. So, at the moment, there is simply no way I could give the plug-ins the 100% of focus that they need to become really great, and you, my customers, the attention that you deserve. I have therefore decided to put all Retrode matters on hold until the storm is over, and I’m asking you for your understanding and a little more patience if you have a pending pre-order.

Please note that this probably sounds worse than it actually is. All open orders of Retrodes (not plug-ins) will be served in the next few days; I’m just closing the store for new orders until further notice. If you absolutely need a Retrode now, there are other places on the internet that still sell them. Plug-ins are not abandoned either: all things that are done by external partners (cases, electronics, assembly) and don’t involve me personally will move on even while I’m gone. Please understand that I won’t be more specific about the “a few weeks” until they’re over. If you can’t wait that long, please let me know (matthias@retrode.com), and I will refund your order.

This message supersedes all previous estimates, including the now-infamous “week of January 14″ e-mail to plug-in pre-orderers. Don’t be sad; that stuff will still be great – just “a few weeks” later… :-)
For now, please accept my apologies and join myself and my family in looking forward to calmer times. Thank you for your ongoing support and patience!

You work 80 – 90 hours a week and people complain about the Chinese workers (Foxconn) that work less than you?* No offsense to the Chinese workers, but 80 – 90 hours a week isn’t “right”; at least “our” standards over here across the pond. (USA).

The problem is not the location, but my stage of an academic career, where I do not work for my formal employer as much as I do for my own research record. Combine that with an unfortunate bunching of extremely important deadlines, and you have the 80-90 hours I’m talking about. Fortunately, these times will be over in a few weeks, and there’s hope that the rest of the year will be a bit more laid back.

Matthias, while I anxiously await my plugins, (because I know how awesome they will be) I also know that everyone needs some time off and you are no exception.

I’ve been following the Retrode since that initial post on GP32X where we encouraged you to make a product out of it. I am the proud owner of a Retrode 2, and I would love to see you take your project to new heights. But to do this, it is important that the Retrode does not become a burden to you. To make sure of this, taking breaks like this when it is starting to feel a little overwhelming are necessary and completely understandable.

I hope you and your family have a great time during the break you take, and I look forward to your future ideas for the Retrode. :D

Even God gets one day a week off, so it’s understandable that you might need some kind of break from things every now and then for various reasons since you’re only human. Make the most of your time with your family, don’t want to take them for granted.